Dictionary

solemnity en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /səˈlɛmnɪti/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From solemn + -ity, from Middle English solemnity (“observance of formality and ceremony”), frequently in the phrases in solemnity, with solemnity, which from Old French solemnite, from Latin sollemnitās, from sollemnis. (Compare solemn.)

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The quality of being deeply serious and sober or solemn.
   • There has been nothing in archæology that has made such a vivid impression on the popular imagination as Mr. Arthur Evans's excavations at Knossos. The Minotaur! the Labyrinth—such words do not suggest the solemnities of antiquarian research. 1907, Ronald M. Burrows, The Discoveries In Crete, page 1:
   • These promises were often made with great solemnity and confirmed with an oath. 1754, Jonathan Edwards, An Inquiry into the Modern Prevailing Notions Respecting that Freedom of the Will which is supposed to be Essential to Moral Agency:
   • the solemnity of a funeral
   • The stateliness and gravity of the Spaniards shows itself in the solemnity of their language. 1711 August 14 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “FRIDAY, August 4, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 158; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:
2. (countable, uncountable) An instance or example of solemn behavior; a rite or ceremony performed with reverence.
   • This is the Man after God's Heart, […] by endeavouring, when he aſſiſted at thoſe Solemnities, to perform them with the utmoſt Attention, Alacrity, and holy Warmth of Mind, of which he was capable. 1698 December 1 (Gregorian calendar), Francis Atterbury, “The Usefulness of Church Musick, a Sermon Preached on St. Cecilia’s Day, in 1698”, in Thomas Moore, editor, Sermons on Several Occasions. […], volume II, London: […] George James […]; and sold by C. Davis, […], published 1734, →OCLC, pages 233–234:
   • Great was the cauſe; our old ſolemnities / From no blind zeal or fond tradition riſe, / But ſav'd from death, our Argives yearly pay / Theſe grateful honours to the God of Day. c. 1699 – 1703, Alexander Pope, “The First Book of Statius His Thebais”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC, page 337:
3. (countable, uncountable) A feast day of the highest rank celebrating a mystery of faith such as the Trinity, an event in the life of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or another important saint.
4. (countable, uncountable) A solemn or formal observance; proceeding according to due form; the formality which is necessary to render a thing done valid.
5. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) A celebration or festivity.

Forms

Deriveds

oversolemnity · supersolemnity

Synonyms

gravity

Translations (21)

ca solemnitat (quality of being solemn) · ca solemnitat (instance of solemn behavior) · pt solenidade (instance of solemn behavior) · vi lễ trọng (feast day of the highest rank) · fr solennité (feast day of the highest rank) · da højtidelighed (quality of being solemn) · it solennità (instance of solemn behavior) · la sollemnitās (feast day of the highest rank) · ru торже́ственность (quality of being solemn) · bg сериозност (quality of being solemn) · uk торжество́ (feast day of the highest rank) · fr solennité (instance of solemn behavior) · ru серьёзность (quality of being solemn) · es solemnidad (quality of being solemn) · ro solemnitate (instance of solemn behavior) · de Hochfest (feast day of the highest rank) · eo seleno (quality of being solemn) · es solemnidad (instance of solemn behavior) · ru зна́чимость (quality of being solemn) · sv högtidlighet (quality of being solemn) · bg тържественост (quality of being solemn)